Blasting powder



TJNETEQ STATES @FZFHQE.

PETER N. STANKOVITCH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BLAST'ING POWDER.

No Drawing. Application filed July 14,

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER N. STANKOVITCH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Seattle, in the county of King. and StateofWashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBlasting Powder; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates generally to explosives and particularly to animproved explosive or blasting powder capable of; general use, butparticularly suit-able for light blasting. such as stump blasting, landclearing, and blasting hardpan or cemented gravel. It may also be usedeffectively for blasting purposes in coal and quartz mines.

The improved powder can be handled and used with a considerable amountof safety. It is not susceptible to deterioration, and hence it may behandled, used and stored regardless of climatic conditions, and it willretain its strength for an indefinite period of time.

The improved powder consists of nitroglycerin. dinitrotoluene, sodiumnitrate, flour, middlings and sulphur. A cheap or lower grade of flourmay be used, but a good grade of middlings should be selected. Thesulphur used should be crude sulphur and must be in a finely powderedstate.

The ingredients may be mixed together in various proportions accordingto the particularuse for which the powder is intended. A powder havingthe proper strength and other qualities for light blasting, such asstump blasting, land clearing, and blasting hardpan or cemented gravel,may be obtained by mixing the ingredients in the following proportions,viz.-

Nitroglycerin 10. 0% Dinitrotoluene 2. 0% Sodium nitrate 65.5% Flour 8.0% llfiddlings 6. 0% Sulphur 8. 5%

Total 100.0%

Where a more powerful powder is required, the proportions of thenitroglycerin and dinitrotoluene may be increased up to 20%. It then canbe suitably used for mining purposes, such as for hard coal min-Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922. 1921. Serial N5. 484,763.

ing and for mining generally in quartz mines and fiat formation mineswhere the formations are generally soft and the rocks are of mediumhardness, such as is shale, slate and sandstone.

Where a less powerful powder is desired, only about 10% of thenitroglycerin and dinitrotoluene need be used. This makes a very cheapblasting powder suitable for blasting hardpan and loosening up theground or soil where steam shovels are used or where grading is beingdone.

The powder can be made in five hundred or one thousand pound batches,and in mixing a thousand pound batch of the powder of the first of theforegoing specified powders, the ingredients should be mixed together inthe following proportions by weight, viz.-

Nitroglycerin 100 lbs. Dinitrotoluene 20 lbs. Sodium nitrate 655 lbs.Flour A 80 lbs. Middlings lbs. Sulphur 85 lbs.

The ingredients are prepared for mixing as follows The sodium nitrate,flour, middlings and sulphur are first thoroughly dried, and after beingcarefully weighed, are thoroughly mixed together, preferably bymeans ofa mixing machine.

The nitroglycerin and dinitrotoluene are first carefully weighed andthen stirred together in a wooden, copper or lead tank by means of awooden stick or paddle until all of the dinitrotoluene is dissolved inor is united with the nitroglycerin.

The solution of the dinitrotoluene in the nitroglycerin is then pouredinto the mixture of sodium nitrate, flour, middlings and sulphur,preferably while the latter is in the mixing machine, and the mixingmachine is operated until the nitroglycerindinitrotoluene solutionbecomes thoroughly absorbed or incorporated in the sodium nitrate,flour, middlings and sulphur mixture.

After being put through the mixing machine, the product is then siftedand given an additional mixing with a wooden shovel. It is then in theform of powder and is ready to be packed in paper cartridges, as iscustomary. The cartridges may be of any size. They should be dipped inparafin wax before being filled, and after they are.

the addition of dinitrotoluene, to the nitroglycerin, while notweakening the powder, make it safe for handling and .for transportation,and gives it the quality of retaining its strength for an indefiniteperiod of time, and also makes it a comparatively cheap product. Y

glycerin, dinitrotoluene,

What is claimed is: V

1. A blasting powder composed of av solution of dinitrotoluene innitroglycerine, absorbed in a powdered body containing sodium nitrate,flour, middlings, and sulphur.

2. A blasting powder composed of nitrosodium nitrate, flour, iniddlings,and sulphur.

3. A blasting powder composed of from 10% to of a solution ofdinitrotoluene in nitroglycerin, absorbed in a powdered mixture ofsodium nitrate flour, middlings, and sulphur;

4. A blasting powder composed of 10% of nitroglycerin, 2% ofdinitrotoluene, 65.5% of sodium nitrate, 8% of flour, 6% of middlings,and 8.5% of sulphur.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER N. STANKOVITGH.

